Now I now we are all different but is there anyone out there who could start to point me in the right direction of a good brand of saddle/seat ? I've tried the one my bike came with and 4 different pro-logo ones and am at my wits ends !

Am thinking specialised have a good range and might move onto them next but any suggestions would be appreciated!

Yes saddles are individual, but after four (or five?) saddles I'd be looking at your bike fit as well. A useful article by Steve Hogg mentions some common issues (and likely saddle brands). Some women do like Brooks but there's not the same level of devotion as by guys and there's a weight penalty with most of them (and price penalty if they don't suit).

There's a fair bit of love for Selle Italia gel flow, and I know a few race bikes wearing San Marco Aspide (various models).

Now I now we are all different but is there anyone out there who could start to point me in the right direction of a good brand of saddle/seat ? I've tried the one my bike came with and 4 different pro-logo ones and am at my wits ends !

Am thinking specialised have a good range and might move onto them next but any suggestions would be appreciated!

If you really want comfort, then try a tensioned leather saddle appropriate to your purpose.Eg:Brooks (not the cheapest place to buy though)Selle An-AtomicaVO

If for some strange reason you have a phobia to leather (some do) then I've heard that Selle SMP are liked by some.

Try going to a Specialized dealer and get your sit bone width measured. It's all very discrete as you only sit on a special cushion.This will give you a good start knowing what width saddle you require.

By the way the Specialized saddles aren't too bad either. I've done a lot of K's on mine since April and me and my bum and saddle are all happy and still the best of friends.

duds2u wrote:Try going to a Specialized dealer and get your sit bone width measured. It's all very discrete as you only sit on a special cushion.This will give you a good start knowing what width saddle you require.

By the way the Specialized saddles aren't too bad either. I've done a lot of K's on mine since April and me and my bum and saddle are all happy and still the best of friends.

Hi,

My wife and friend (female) both use specialized saddles and have had no issues at all. They did measure their sit bones and got the specific width.

I called into Wembley cycles last week (dropping the coffee machine of to get fixed next door ) and I am pretty certain they had a range of specialized saddles to measure.maybe try. Give them a bell.

My wife did not like the Fizik Arione, nor did she like the Selle Italia XO (neither had a cutout).Just ordered a "Terry Womens' Butterfly Ti Gel" saddle for my wife as she specifically wanted a saddle with a cutout.Reviews looked like this will do the job nicely.

Welsh Dragon wrote:It's not my bum that's getting sore !!!!!!!!!I think I sit too far forward also so been working on that too !

Steve Hogg has written an article on women's Sensitive Issues that you might find useful.

+1 on getting your sit bones measured. There's various ways of measuring it yourself (e.g. by indentations in a rice-bag or hot/cold gel ice-pack). Best way might be to find an LBS that has a Specialized Ass-o-meter that can measure you up, and recommend the right size saddle. Specialized saddles aint cheap, so make any purchase conditional on it being a satisfactory fit (money-back if it isn't etc.,.).

Cheers

WombatK

Somebody has to do something, and it's just incredibly pathetic that it has to be us -Jerry Garcia

I'll post a review shortly but I've found it really comfortable and it looks good too. Some bike shops like the Clarence Street Cyclery women's store in Sydney's CBD have a test saddle of the Fizik Vesta which you can borrow before you commit. I also know that Specialized dealers usually load test saddles as well. It's a great idea to test it before you commit.

Thanks all. My LBS is amazing and has a buy before you try scheme.I wear 2XU shorts which are good quality.The bike is pretty new and has been set up well so I don't think its the bike set up. Maybe there might be a few things to tweak-well check with LBS.

Welsh Dragon wrote:My LBS is amazing and has a buy before you try scheme.

Yeah, nearly all are like that.

It's good if they have a try before you buy scheme. It shows some confidence in their products. Still, there is a reasonable chance they won't stock your best-fit saddle, regardless of what they stock. Also tensioned leather saddles like Brooks won't have a try before you buy scheme, as it often takes some time for the saddle to fit you by breaking in.

Welsh Dragon wrote:It's not my bum that's getting sore !!!!!!!!!....The bike is pretty new and has been set up well so I don't think its the bike set up. Maybe there might be a few things to tweak-well check with LBS.

Herein lies the problem.

My wife had similar. She has a good saddle (female Selle Italia Gel Flow) but no joy. Had a proper bike fit and all good. Needed a much shorter stem and the seat post to be lowered (quite significantly to my surprise - shows what I know ).

i had a fizik vesta and i didnt mind it until i was on the flats for too long and leaning forward - id then get numbness at the front.

i got a bike fit done and tried the selle italia gel flow lady and the SMP - i didnt like the ridges of the smp going all the way to the back - although u may get used to this so got the gel flow. now im not a big fan. no numbness, but my ass gets REALLY sore after about 60kms. (i also wear the 2xu shorts). i dont think it is wide enough for me.

Schmenz wrote:i had a fizik vesta and i didnt mind it until i was on the flats for too long and leaning forward - id then get numbness at the front.

i got a bike fit done and tried the selle italia gel flow lady and the SMP - i didnt like the ridges of the smp going all the way to the back - although u may get used to this so got the gel flow. now im not a big fan. no numbness, but my ass gets REALLY sore after about 60kms. (i also wear the 2xu shorts). i dont think it is wide enough for me.

Schmenz wrote:i had a fizik vesta and i didnt mind it until i was on the flats for too long and leaning forward - id then get numbness at the front.

i got a bike fit done and tried the selle italia gel flow lady and the SMP - i didnt like the ridges of the smp going all the way to the back - although u may get used to this so got the gel flow. now im not a big fan. no numbness, but my ass gets REALLY sore after about 60kms. (i also wear the 2xu shorts). i dont think it is wide enough for me.

where are you based? i could lend you one of mine to try.

hahah after this i have decided i dont like the new selle italia and went back to the fizik! one gives numbness, the other a really painfully sore ass.

Was browsing Steve Hogg's site recently and he makes the point that from a seat's point of view a female bum is much the same as a male bum. You may jump to the conclusion that he cites this as evidence that one shouldn't take advice from a seat but no, he agrees with it.He gives lots of props to SMP saddles.

Some men have narrower sit bones, some women have wider... Worst thing u can do is generalize... Measure ur sit bones then u will know... Those wide as, over gelafied saddles designed for "women" are just derogatory to most who ride...

If u don't have much luck with saddles, go back to the most comfortable, set it up dead level, and drop ur seatpost 2cm, and see if it's anymore comfortable.

Alot of "good bike fits" will leave u with a too high a saddle position. The resultant rock of the pelvis with every pedal stroke will make ANY saddle uncomfortable.

I have 2 saddles I like. Specialized Romin, and the fizik arione. Very different saddles, but either I can do 10hrs on. Recently I experimented with my post 1cm higher to measure any power differences. Power was about the same but I soon got VERY saddle sore after 90mins. Same saddle, just 10mm higher.

Get someone to ride behind u when ur pushing at about 60 to 70% of max... If yr hips are moving up and down with each pedal stroke (poor pelvic stability) then chances are that saddle height is playing a role.

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